AFTER he voiced out his frustrations about his touches, or lack thereof, following TNT's loss in Game Four of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals last Sunday, Calvin Oftana let his continued stellar play do the talking on Wednesday.
Oftana supplied TNT with 15 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field, to become one of the key players in the Tropang Giga’s 99-72 rout of Barangay Ginebra in Game Five at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The TNT gunner said although he had moved on from his sentiments in Game Four immediately thereafter, it was still addressed within the team on the eve of Wednesday’s all-important contest.
“We talked about it. We had a team meeting yesterday. I think that’s enough,” said Oftana.
Oftana had 26 points in the Game Four loss, but admitted frustration set in, as he felt like he didn’t have enough touches in the second half after pouring in 20 in the first 24 minutes. The Tropang Giga dropped the contest, 106-92, and the Gin Kings drew even in the series.
READ: Oftana airs frustration after high scoring night goes to waste
TNT coach Chot Reyes confirmed the team meeting.
“I literally asked him how can I help you, bakit nagkaganun, and how can we help him,” Reyes said.
The team meeting obviously helped in a big way for Oftana, who dropped 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field in the first half of Game Five.
Oftana only had three points in the second half, but his production was no longer needed, as the Tropang Giga were already up big and dominating to eventually win by a huge 25-point margin.
According to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon, Wednesday was the most lopsided TNT win in the finals since Game Three of the 2011 Governors’ Cup where the Texters beat Petron, 132-105.
The Tropang Giga also dealt Ginebra its worst loss since its 132-94 defeat to San Miguel in Game Three of the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup, Mangonon added.
Winning cures everything
The 28-year-old Oftana reiterated that whatever his frustrations were in Game Four, it's already in the past.
“’Yung frustration kasi, during game ‘yan, lalo na kapag ‘yung gaano ka-intense ‘yung laro,” said Oftana. “I think every player naman has those times na nafu-frustrate ka. But after that, you can see me smile outside, wala na ‘yun.”
“Ang maganda lang kasi nun, we looked forward to the next game. Kung ano ‘yung nangyari during the game, learn from it, watch it, kung anong mali, bakit ganun ang nangyari,” he added.
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